intransitive verbEtymology: Middle French flenchir to bend, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German lenken to bend, Old High German hlanca flank — more at lankDate: 1578
to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain ;wince; also to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort
Synonyms:seerecoil
• flinchnoun
• flinchernoun

flinch — [flıntʃ] v also flinch away [Date: 1500 1600; : Old French; Origin: flenchir [i] to turn aside ] 1.) to move your face or body away from someone or something because you are in pain, frightened, or upset flinch at ▪ She flinched at the touch of… … Dictionary of contemporary English

flinch — [ flıntʃ ] verb intransitive to make a sudden small movement because you are afraid, surprised, or in pain: Pamela flinched each time he yelled at her. flinch from (doing) something usually in negatives to avoid dealing with a difficult… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

flinch — ► VERB 1) make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear or pain. 2) (flinch from) avoid through fear or anxiety. ► NOUN ▪ an act of flinching. ORIGIN originally in the sense «slink or sneak off»: from Old French flenchir turn… … English terms dictionary

flinch — [flinch] vi. [earlier also flench &LT; OFr flenchir, to bend aside &LT; Frank * hlankjan, akin to Ger lenken, OE hlencan, to twist, bend: see LANK] 1. to draw back, as from a blow, difficulty, etc. 2. to wince, as from pain n. an act of flinching … English World dictionary